A NATURE reserve has completed a wetland upgrade to attract visiting wading birds.

Durham Wildlife Trust has created wetland grassland areas at two lakes at its Rainton Meadows site, between Durham City and Houghton-le-Spring.

The trust wanted to provide habitats suitable for snipe and curlew.

The wet grassland areas are complimented by wader scrapes and a series of foot drains that will increase feeding opportunities for breeding waders.

Excavated material was used to create a large island in the lake that will provide predator-free refuges for a variety of wildfowl and other wetland birds such as great crested grebe and little grebe, common tern and cormorant.

An area of reedbed has been created that will attract different species such as reed bunting, sedge warbler, water rail and otter.

New viewing hides have been built and footpaths have been upgraded.

Mark Richardson, reserves manager, said: “We thank all our regular visitors to Rainton Meadows for putting up with the disruption caused by the engineering works and would certainly encourage all members to visit the project in the spring when hopefully migrating wading birds will start to drop in and take up residence.”